Aerial torpedo



T. J. KlNSER.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1918.

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anyewfoz J LIZ/men c bl o'omm I l 7710/ ya I Illllllunumu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON I KINSER, 0F GLAIBFII IELD, TENNESSEE.

AERIAL ronrnno.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. KINSER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at finally destroyed with disastrous effect upon the enemy when it comes in contact with any obstruction, such as the ground or a building.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the torpedo.

through the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the bomb tripping mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine.

The torpedo comprises a shell or casing 1 of streamline formation so that the torpedo may be; propelled through the air with small head resistance. The propelling mechanism comprises an engine 2 which is housed within the shell 1 and which actuates a tractor screw propeller 3, the shaft of which is journaled in bearings in the nose portion of the shell 1.

At the rear of the shell 1 directional vertical and horizontal rudders 4 and 5 are provided, said rudders being ordinarily fixed so as to cause the torpedo to follow a direct course. In order to obtain the necessary pr0- peller speed, the crank shaft 6 of the engine as fast thereon a gear 7 which meshes with and drives a pinion 8, on a counter shaft 9.

front toward their Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 27, 1919. Application filed July 24, 1918. Serial No. 246,574.

at a much higher speed than the engine shaft.

The engine also drives the bomb tripping mechanism and for that purpose the crank shaft 6 has fast thereon a pinion 12 which meshes with and actuates' a. gear 13 fast on a counter shaft 14. Fast on the same countershaft 14 is a pinion 15 which meshes with and'actuates a gear 16 fast on another short countershaft 17. The shaft 17 has fast thereon a pinion 18 which meshes with another gear 19 and the latter has fast on the gear 21, the latter in turn meshing with and driving another gear 22 mounted on a short shaft 23 which is connected by a universal shaft thereof a pinion 20 which drives a joint 24 to the forward end of one of a pair 1 of threaded bomb tripping shafts 25. The shafts 25 extend longitudinally of the shell 1 and follow the general streamline shape thereof, said shafts 25 converging from their rear ends as shown in the plan view. Each of said shafts 25 con stitutes in eflect a feed screw which engages a bomb tripping member 26 having a threaded portion 27 which engages the respective feed screw or shaft-.25 and moves longitudi Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section nally of said screw as the latter is rotated. The feed screws or shafts 25 are connected together for equal and simultaneous rotation in opposite directions by gears 28 fast on the rear ends thereof and of equal size, the rear sections of the shafts or screws 25 being connected to the main sections of the respective shafts by universal joints 29.

Extending along the opposite sides of the shell of the torpedo are bomb supporting racks or rails .30, each of which is formed with a series of slots 31. Arranged adjacent to each of theslots 31 is a bomb holding device comprising a fixed jaw 32 which is secured fixedly to the rail or track bar 30 by fastening means 33, the holder also comprises a movable jaw 34 which is connected cent slot 31 so that the upper extremity of said arm 36 lies in thepath of. the bomb tripping member 26 above referred to. The bomb holder supports a bomb 37 having a whichextends upwardly through the adjasupporting shaft 38 at the top thereof, said shank having an enlargement or knob 39 which is ordinarily held between the fixed and'movable jaws of the bomb holder, untll the tripping member 26 strikes the arm 36 of the pivoted jaw of the holder, whereupon said pivoted jaw is rocked out of its holding position and the bomb is released and permitted to drop. The bomb trippin member 26 moves longitudinally the wholeIength of the bomb supporting rail or track bar and thereby trips and releases the bombs one after another. It will also be observed that the bomb tripping'member 26 at one side of the torpedo moves in the opposite direction from the corresponding member at the opposite side of the torpedo. By omitting the required number of bombs along the'initial part of travel of the bomb tripping memb'ers, the master torpedo may proceed the required distance from its point of launch before it "begins to release and drop the bombs carried thereby.

The torpedo also comprises a central longitudinally elongated compartment 40 in which anexplosive is placed to obtain the final destruction of the master torpedo and 1 v;-[-' 1. I In an aerial torpedo, the combination a of a master torpedo, a main explosive charge to spread disasterfamong the enemy. 41 designates a batterywhich will connect with a switch and plug for the purpose of igniting and firing the explosive charge in the compartment 40. Extending from opposite sides-of the fuselage are aerial supporting Wings 421 Inwardly converging stays, are attached at their outer extremities to the outer portions of said wings and are connected at their inner ends to oppositely arranged rings 43 which are normally enga ed by retaining hooks 44 on the fuselage. he

hooks 44 are connected by one or more cords or strands. 46 to a switch operating lever 47 which'lever when released by the relaxation of the cord or cords 46 operate-to close the battery circuit. I This result takes place when the master torpedo, after having discharged all of the smaller torpedoes, strikes an object, causing a quick pull on the wires or stays 4:5.

' I claim ftherein, an aerial supporting surface for said shell, directional means, propelling means i a torpedo supporting including an engine housed within said shell, rail extending longituo shell, torpedo holding dinally of the torpe in series along said rail,

members arranged a torpedo tripping member movablelongitudinally of said rail for tripping the torpedo holder and releasing the torpedoes successively, said torpedo tripping member being oppositely connected with and actuated said torpedo 'pedoes held thereby,

by said engine, electric ignitionmeans for firing said charge including a battery and a switch, and contact wires arranged exteriorly of said shell and .adapted upon impact with 'an object to throw said switch.

2. In an aeri l torpedo, the combination of a master torpedo body, aerial supporting means therefor, directional means, a tractor simultaneous and equal rotation in opposite directions, one of said feed screws being geared to and actuated by said engine, torand 'operatively' pedo holding member's arranged along said supporting rails, torpedo-tripping members actuated by said; j ,feedscrews and movable along said supporting rails for successively tripping said torpedo holders and releas ng char e'in said shell, electric ignition means for ring said charge including a battery and a switch, and contact wires arranged ex-- teriorly of said shell and adapted upon impact with an object to close said switch.

3; In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a master torpedo body, aerial supporting means therefor, directional means, a tractor screw propeller, an engine housed within the shell of the torpedo andfioperatively geared to said propeller, torpedo supporting rails extending longitudinally ofsaid shell at opposite sides thereof, feed screws also extending longitudinally of and wlthin the torpedo shell, and geared. together for simultaneous and equal rotation in opposite directions, one of said feed screws being geared to and actuated by said engine, torpedo holding members arranged along said supporting rails, torpedo trippin members actuated by said feed screws an movable along said supporting holders and releasing the toran; explosive char e in said shell, electric ignition means for ing the torpedoes held thereby, an explosive V rails for successively trlppmg said charge including abattery and a switch,

and contact wires arranged exteriorly of said shell, and adapted upon impactwith an object to close said switch, said'wires forming 'stay wires means.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

THOMAS J EIfFERSON KINSER.

for the aerial supporting 

